Mr. Speaker, on this the first day of Black History Month, I stand in the House to honour Canada's first black female mayor.
Daurene Lewis was many things: a role model, mentor, community leader, businesswoman and educator. She was also an inspiration for many Nova Scotians and a resident a Halifax West whom I deeply respect and admired.
Sadly, Ms. Lewis died Saturday, at the age of 69.
As the Halifax Chronicle Herald correctly stated:
...she was the champion of a fine world where all of us are respected as persons and judged on our merits. And where leadership is about being creative, stretching your abilities and doing a good job as the representative of everyone, of the whole community.
I would ask all my colleagues to join me in extending condolences to her family and in saying a fond farewell to Daurene Lewis, a truly inspiring woman.